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Interview with Matt, Class of 2018

Matt Marr, Class of 2018, will be going to Fitchburg State University next year to study Game Design. Matt has been a student at Sizer School since the seventh grade and in an interview with Ms. Craigen, described his seven year journey with Sizer.

Coming from Gardner Public Schools and homeschooling, Matt described himself as not being “very socially inclined” when he started in the middle of his seventh grade year. A friend had recommended Sizer to him and after doing a tour of the school, he was surprised by the smaller classroom settings and individualized attention that teachers were able to give the students. Soon after, he found himself falling in love with Sizer School’s mission and getting involved in multiple different activities at the school including athletics and after school programs.

Matt described his teachers at Sizer as “a good change” and attributed his abilities to overcome personal and emotional obstacles to his teachers and guidance counselors. It was in his two ninth grade years that Matt found his passion for singing and performing, participating in both Chorus and Sizer Theater Arts (SiTA). With his mother being a member of Sizer’s PTSO, he has volunteered for multiple events such as Open Mic Night, House of the Rising Starts, and spaghetti suppers.

In tenth grade he was persuaded by Mr. Prescott, Athletic Director and Cross Country Coach, to join the Cross Country team. Admittedly hesitant at first because of his distaste for exercising, Matt was surprised when he found a true passion for running.

“Mr. Prescott has said before that I’m the heart of the team. The truth is, he’s the one that really made me enthusiastic about running. One person that also made me happy to run and someone who inspired me to keep running is Julie Gambill [Class of 2016]. It has surprised me to notice it, but kids have started to look up to me as their role model too”.

After his first year of Cross Country, Matt also joined the Track and Field team alongside Coach Prescott. His advice to anyone is “Exercise is good for your physical and mental health! It will make you happier. Do it! Run! You’ll get better”. He plans to participate in Cross Country at Fitchburg State University in the Fall.

In addition to athletics, Matt successfully launched a Dungeons and Dragons after school club in the Winter of 2018 after multiple years of trial and error. He learned from his previous mistakes, adapted his approach, and started his senior year with optimism and positivity. With this and help from his peers and 12th grade teacher, Mrs. Sweeney, he created balance with academics and emotional stress; this allowed him to start this club after having tried three times before. Matt is passing the club leader responsibilities over to his peers and their intent is to continue meeting in the 2018-19 school year.

When asked what advice he would give to anyone who is considering coming to Sizer next year, he said, “We’re willing to help no matter where you come from and no matter what you’re background … we are always willing to help. We will be your shoulder to cry on if you need, your backup system if you’re having trouble with someone; but most importantly we are all your friends. And no matter what, we are here for you”.